Day 2 in Colorado was a Saturday – we started our day off by heading to Colorado Springs and “Garden of the Gods”. A most accurate name to be sure – it was amazing…..

With a sunrise like this you just know it is going to be a great day. This was taken off the hotel balcony in the middle of Lakewood, CO

An iphone panarama of Garden of the Gods

Look who was our greeter at the visitors center

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods

If he had on his scout uniform we would call him “Russell”

Thank you for the very generous gift!

Garden of the Gods

Hey we were both there!

While I was taking photos of the family with their camera – hubby was taking photos of them with our camera

Dee – climb higher – No THANKS!

Garden of the Gods

What you can’t hear is my hubby encouraging these young minds (there is a boy behind the little girl) to see how far they could go back in that crevice – but also telling them to be mindful of the snakes!

My Soul Mate!

Stopping to enjoy the endless view

Garden of the Gods

Balancing Rock at Garden of the Gods – google this and learn the history of this scenic spot

While at the visitors center I saw the information for the Royal Gorge – so we headed that direction – only to find out that a fire in June had wiped out the park – however the bridge was saved. The park was mostly closed, but they had built an access road that would allow visitors to at least see the bridge – the gnats were just down right awful when we got out (clue number one would’ve been that the park ranger had been sitting in his car with a beekeepers helmet on, the car was not running – it was just how he was escaping these gnats). Hubby told me to “get your picture” and let’s get away from these bugs. So here is the bridge – we will be back when it opens again in the future and we thank all the fire fighters across the US that are fighting horrific fires this year, saving lives, homes and national treasures.

Bridge at the Royal Gorge

From here we headed back to Canon City for sustenance, we chose Michaels it was a delight then we were off to visit the Abbey and check out the winery!

Statues at the winery

Now when you are on vacation it is common place to take a different route home than the one you arrived by – I am the co-pilot and I saw a road Hwy 67 aka Phantom Canyon Road would take us right back to Denver. Well this is where the asphalt ends and you are now following the Narrow Gauge Railway that hauled gold down from Cripple Creek and neighboring towns. This road was narrow (duh) and a had the washboard effect at times but all and all a trip well worth the effort. Just in case you are not inclined to make the trip yourself I took a few photos to share (imagine that!)

Watch how the geological layers change in this canyon

A River Runs Through It

Imagine rail cars coming through that tunnel

Not an original trestle – very pretty though….

I know I know – if you’ve seen one rock you’ve seen them all – sorry I just don’t agree!

A little history

The view from a top that trestle

We just drove through that – it was very narrow

Wonder how skinny the road gets up ahead

Yep – more rocks!

THE EDGE! That is really a long way down!

Did you guess correctly? Yep – more rocks!

I like old things – cool barn

How many winters has it seen?

Maybe we should take from building instruction from this builder

And then there is the new construction – up on the highest hill – if you got it – flaunt it! This was a beautiful structure!

I live at 11′ above sea level!

If you live in the sky this must be your address

The road in

Did I say I love old things? And mining structures sing to my heart. On my dads 16th birthday (1922) he went to work in the mines in Park City so maybe it is inherited …..

Structures like this are everywhere in Colorado

A little more history lesson for you

History 101

Old things

When the Keep Out sign isn’t enough use chain link

I want one in my yard!

Actual vehicle traveling along the byway

Cripple Creek was having a bike rally to honor Veterans

Just a few bikes

A few more bikes

And some more

Pretty!

What is not to love?

This needs flowers planted in it!

Squeak…..

A weed grows…..

Enough said!

Say what you will about mining – but we all require it. We ride bikes, we drive cars, we heat our homes….. Yes over the last 200 years we have learned how to do it better, safer, cleaner and that is a good thing.

This blog post is from one of our days in Colorado – I look back and wonder how we survived this trip, we still have Pikes Peak, a great visit with my niece and her leading man, Leadville (where my great-grandfather lived in the 1880’s) and THE CONCERT to cover!